Experts Worry Over South Florida Doctors Who Treat Pain and Drug Addicts

In South Florida, state regulators have discovered a sobering trend: at least 41 South Florida doctors treat both drug addicts and pain patients. Experts worry that this combination of medical specialties could be dangerous, because it puts potentially addictive drugs to treat pain alongside a population that may already have drug dependencies.

According to an article in the Miami Herald, many of the doctors dispensing painkillers at South Florida pain clinics do not have special certification in addiction or pain management.

New Jersey requires doctors to be board certified in pain management before they can prescribe painkillers, but Florida doctors are allowed to dispense painkillers provided they have completed an eight-hour training course, have a valid medical license, and have approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Many of these doctors have reportedly been disciplined for recklessly prescribing addictive drugs, but they can continue prescribing the drugs after they return from suspension.